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Dunya News: Assemblies to be dissolved before March 16, poll date within 10 days

LAHORE: Addressing a joint press conference here Doctor Tahirul Qadri and Qamar
Zaman Kaira briefed the media person about the follow up meeting between the two
sides.

Tahirul Qadri said today’s meeting had proved that Islamabad Declaration was
not just a piece of paper as described by some sections, adding government team
has promised that the document would be given legal coverage through legislation.

He informed that it had been agreed that assemblies will be dissolved before
16 March and election date would be announced within 10 days.

Eligibility of candidates and scrutiny of nomination papers would be completed
in 30 days, he said.

He said there was difference of opinion between Coalition partners and Pakistan
Awami Tehrik regarding the reconstruction of Election Commission.

Objecting to the appointment of the members of Election Commission Qadri said
the process of nomination did not fulfill the requirements of the constitution.

“We have no doubts about the impartiality of the Chief Election Commission but
the selections of other three members was in violation of the constitution, and
we move the Supreme Court if EC in this regard.

Qadri said electoral laws stress transparency not only during polling but before
that also.

“Justness, fairness and impartiality must be maintained before the polls and
for this purpose any step that can influence the voters has to stopped as pre-emptive
measure”, he said, adding allocation of discretionary funds to MNAs MPAs and senators
at this stage was unjust..

He said that it was also reaffirmed that 30 days will be given for the scrutiny
of filed nomination papers of candidates in the light of constitutional article
62 and 63.

He said no candidate before getting clearance from the election commission regarding
his eligibility will start his campaign. He said that practical implications and
procedures were discussed in this regard at the talks.

He said that consultation is in progress between the coalition government delegation
and Awami Tahreek to reach consensus over the formation of interim governments at
the Federal and Provincial level.

He demanded that discretionary funds of PM and CMs should be seized immediately
and the amount should be used for provision of electricity and gas to masses on
subsidized rates.

Kaira informed that due process of law was adopted in the appointment of members
of Election Commission and a team of seven legal experts took the decisions.

The minister said that government cannot act out of constitution regarding election
commission and decision of parliamentary Committee cannot be reverted. However‚
he said consultation with Awami Tehrik will continue regarding formation of caretaker
government.

Regarding the discretionary funds, he said it was not possible to sieze the funds
at this stage.

Most of the funds are at the disposal of the provinces, he said.

“EC will activate only after the dissolution of assemblies and cannot take decisions
regarding the funds as it was technically not possible,” he said.

“Our intensions are the same but there are procedural differences”, he said.

Responding to a question Kaira said legislation will be done to give legal coverage
to the Islamabad Declaration.